Bath-tub



Nomaeu D; R. WATSON.

BATH TUB. No. 362,340, PatedMay 3, 1887.

lullllllllm I l f .D widR Watson.

7 WITNESSES. 1 IJVVEJV'TOR v Attorney N PETERS, Plmlo-Lithogmphcr.Washinghwn, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFrcE,

DAVID'R. wA'rsoN, OF BALLINGER, TEXAS.

BATH-TUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,340, dated May 3,1887.

' Application filed December 23, 1886. Serial No. 222,352. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID R. WATsoN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Ballinger, in the county of Runnels and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath-Tubs;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and-use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inbath-tubs, the object of the same being to provide a means whereby anordinary bath-tub may be used for administering steam or medicatedbaths; and my invention consists in the construction and combination ofthe parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specificallypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l isa longitudinal section of a bath-tub constructed in accordance with myimprovement, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. view on a smallerscale, looking in the opposite direction.

A refers to a box or receptacle for the bathtub B, said box beingpreferably provided at one end with rollers a, so that the same can bereadily removed, the opposite end of said frame or box having ordinarysupporting-legs. vThe box A has hinged to one of the longitudinal sidesthereof a cover, A, which is provided on its under side withlongitudinal strips b, as well as transverse strip b, between which andthe outer edge of the tub is secured asuitable packing, a, which willconvert the bath-tub, when the top is closed, into a tight receptacle.This top is also provided with suitable hooks or catches, cl, forattaching the edge of the top opposite the hinges to the sides of thebox A. The top A is provided nearthe upper end of the bath-tub with ahinged door, 0, and an opening, 0, the under side of said opening havingattached thereto an impervious fabric, D, which is provided at its looseedge with a drawing-string, e.

E refers to a suitable bottom board,which Fig. 3 is a similar consistsof a series of transverse strips which are provided at suitableintervals with perforations, said transverse strips being each 0011-nected to longitudinal strips f j, which have the under sides beveled,so as to conform to the curve of the bottom of the tub and provide aspace between said bottom and the transverse strip.

The tub and box A are provided with a tube, 9, which projects slightlybeyond theexterior flexible pipe, G, which may lead either to-ahot-water spigot or a steam-pipe, and through this tube and pipe 9 steam(either medicated or otherwise) or hot water is admitted to the spaceunder the removable bottom E, and said tube 9, when brought below thebottom of the tub, will serve as a means for removing water therefrom.

The pipe g may be provided on the interior of the tub with a suitablestopper, which may be normally held away from the end of the pipe 9 onitsinterior side by spring-pressure, said spring bearing against apivoted rod which may extend diagonally across one end of the tub, theupper end of said rod beingv provided with a sliding bar for operatingthe same, so that the person taking a bath can regulate the admittanceof steam or hot water to the interior of the tub.

When it is desired to take a steam or medicated bath,the removablebottom is first placed in the tub, and the person sits upon the same.The cover is then lowered and his head inserted through the textilefabric D, the drawing-strings being on the inner side of the tub, sothat the person can operate it. After they are made fast, steam can beadmitted to the tub, or, if desirable, boiling water, which will enterunder the artificial bottom, so that the steam will pass through theperforations therein. When it is desirable, an ordinary bath can betaken by simply removing the artificial bottom and keeping the lid in araised position.

The lid of the box, forming with the tub an airtight receptacle, may beused for packing or storing purposes, and the top and sides of the tubmay be ornamented, so as to form an article of furniture, as a sofa orbed.

lam aware that prior to myiuvention it has been proposed to give vaporbaths in cabof the box, and said tube is provided with a Y ICO inets andother devices to which vapor can be admitted, and also that bath-tubshave been provided with air and steam tight covers of fabric, and I donot therefore claim such invention, broadly; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a bath-tub, of a removable bottom provided withperforations or openings, and with supports to sustain it above thepermanent bottom of the tub, asingle opening in said tab below the levelof the removable bottom for inlet and outlet purposes, a valve forelosingsaid opening, and a rod within reach of the head of the tub foroperating the valve and the cover, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a batl1-t-ub,ahinged cover, A, provided adjacentto its edge with packing-strips e, and centrally with an opening, and ahinged door, said opening being provided with a cloth, D, which isattached to the edge of said opening, said cloth being provided withdrawing-strin gs, removable bottom E, having perforations therein, aninlet and outlet opening, 9, arranged below the level of the removablebottom, and a valve to close said opening, substantially as shown, andfor the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a bath tub constructed substantially as shown,and provided with an opening or pipe, 5/, at or below the bottom of thetub, a valve attached to a rod which extends diagonally across a portionof the end of the tub, said rod having a spring for holding the valvenormally away from the opening, and an operating-rod near the upper edgeof the tub, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID It. WATSON.

Vi tnesses:

J. W. POWELL, A. S. BLACKBURN.

